Evolution Mk 225c Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Evolution's Mk 225c is a fantastically adaptable midi keyboard that is extremely useful when coupled with Ableton Live. This device has a great range of features, making it ideal as an Ableton Live controller.

This tutorial will explain all you need to know on using the Evolution Mk 225c with Ableton Live. This includes connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Mk 225c.

Article Contents

Does the Evolution Mk 225c work with Ableton Live?
Does the Evolution Mk 225c come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Mk 225c to ableton
How to midi map the Evolution Mk 225c in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Mk 225c
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Evolution Mk 225c work with Ableton Live?

To put it briefly, the Evolution Mk 225c is compatible with Ableton Live.

Although Ableton Live doesn’t provide a default MIDI remote script within its software for it, the Mk 225c can still be midi mapped to many functions within the software.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Mk 225c is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

You can create your own custom Ableton midi mappings easily, which allows you to control much of the functionality in Ableton Live with your Mk 225c.

Does the Evolution Mk 225c come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite is not included with the Mk 225c, therefore it must be bought separately.

Ableton Live has 3 main versions, Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are very capable pieces of software, the Suite version packs more in, such as over 70GB of library sounds compared to Standard’s 10GB.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Mk 225c to ableton

Connecting the Evolution Mk 225c with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Mk 225c to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Mk 225c and your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.
3. Select the Mk 225c from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Mk 225c are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Mk 225c (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Mk 225c is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

After you have connected the Evolution Mk 225c to Ableton Live with the aforementioned steps, you can now use MIDI mapping to link up the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their corresponding features in Ableton Live:

1. Select the MIDI Map Mode button in the top right corner of the Live window. The button should turn orange, indicating that the MIDI Map Mode is enabled.
2. Select the parameter you wish to control in Ableton by clicking it with the cursor, the parameter will become highlighted.
3. Move a control on the Mk 225c, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Mk 225c.
5. Moving the physical control on your Mk 225c will now move the position of the corresponding parameter in Ableton.
6. Repeat steps 2 - 4 for any other parameters you wish to map.
7. When you’re finished mapping, press the MIDI Map Mode button again to disable it.

The Limitations of midi mapping the Mk 225c

Ableton’s midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly map your Mk 225c, there are however, some limitations to be aware of...

Saving your Mk 225c Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Mk 225c can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Mk 225c, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool 'Control Surface Studio' is exactly what you need!
With it, you'll be able to:
- save and re-use your Mk 225c's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Mk 225c,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Mk 225c, than Live's internal midi mapping mode allows.

Learn more about Control Surface Studio and see how it can help you by clicking here!

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Why can't I hear my Mk 225c in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Mk 225c is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Mk 225c is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Mk 225c.
4. Make sure that the Mk 225c is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.